UK airlines hit out at higher levy on long-haul flights

Britain's aviation industry hit out at the govt Monday over its decision to increase a tax on long-haul flights, saying it made a mockery of the govt's ambition for a 'Global Britain' after it leaves the EU. British finance minister Philip Hammond said in his annual budget that Air Passenger Duty would be frozen for short-haul flights but would rise in line with inflation for long-haul. IAG, said the tax hindered its efforts to fly to new trading markets. "It's ironic that this Brexit budget has undermined Britain's global competitiveness by upping Air Passenger Duty, the world's highest aviation tax, again," IAG said. "We want to offer more flights to key trading markets, like our European competitors, but APD stifles route development to new emerging markets. If Britain wants to compete on the global stage post Brexit, it should be scrapped now." <br/>